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Motta sorry after sending off

By Francisco Acedo

Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta has apologised to his team-mates and to the coaching staff regarding his sending off against Real Sociedad.

Motta explained that he was very sorry for receiving the red card and that he had already spoken to coach Frank Rijkaard.

Rijkaard has hinted that Motta could receive a club fine, on top of the ban he will receive from the Spanish federation.

"Rijkaard has told me that he will think long and hard on his decision and has said that he expects this never to happen again," Motta said in a press conference.

Motta, who has been sent off twice this season, received two yellow cards for repeated protestation involving the Turkish player Nihat.

The Brazilian has revealed that he was shown the first yellow card after asking referee Luis Medina Cantalejo to book Nihat after he played the ball after the whistle.

Motta then earned his second yellow card after commenting that Cantalejo was not doing Barcelona any favours.

The midfielder is worried that he is getting a reputation, and concedes that he might have to change his personality.

He also did not want to create any controversy regarding Cantalejo's decisions, but felt that the penalty decision against him for holding Diego Schurrer in the box was wrong, as the Real Sociedad defender was equally guilty of pulling.

"In my opinion it wasn't a penalty, even though the referee says it is," he said.